Her Bittersweet Surrender

WHERE’S ALIYA?

Biglang may naalaala si Vince sa tagpong ito pitong taon na ang nakalipas. Heto siya nakatayo sa may b****a ng veranda, watching his 5-year-old younger sister, Rylee, playing in their large garden. Biglang sumagi sa isipan niya ang batang babaeng una niyang nakita sa hardin na ito. Kung di siya nagkakamali, Aliya was her name.

In that same year pagkatapos nga kanilang pagtatagpo , hindi na niya nakita muli ang batang babae. He knew something happened right there pero hindi na siya nag-abalang alamin pa ang mga pangyayari. But now that he remembered her again, hindi niya maiwasan ang mag-isip kung saan na bang lupalop ito naroroon. She's probably 12 years old by now.

"Rylee, baby," sabi niya sa kapatid bago ito kargahin para dalhin sa loob ng bahay. "Let's come inside it's about to rain."

"Kuya!!!" masayang sambit ni Rylee habang karga ng nakakatandang kapatid.

Biglang lumitaw ang mommy niya kasama si Tito Rupert. Vince grew up close to him. Mas madalas pa niya itong kasama compare to his dad.

"Vince, dumating ka na pala. Your Tito Rupert has been waiting for you," sabi ni Ryza bago kuhanin si Rylee sa mga bisig ng binata.

"What's up Tito?" malakas na tanong niya kay Rupert. "Did you already miss me? Noong isang araw pa lang tayo nagkita, ah," pabirong dagdag niya.

"I'm just thinking, how about a driving lesson, buddy? Would you like that?" tanong ni Rupert kay Vince na kasalukuyang lumuluwa ang mata sa gulat. He has been wanting to learn how to drive, he's already seventeen turning eighteen this year. Dapat matagal na sana siya magsimulang matuto kung paano magmamaneho ng kotse kung hindi lang sa malaking pagtutol galing sa kanyang ama , Tito Rupert here is much willing to help him out at libre pa.

"Rupert, did Theodore already know about this?" putol ni Ryza sa kasayahan niya.

"Of course," mabilis na sagot ni Rupert. "I already have his go signal, so problem solved buddy." Napatalon naman sa tuwa si Vince. Finally, he could now use the car which his father promised him two years ago.

"Let's go?" sabi ni Rupert sa binata.

"Sure, buddy!" nasasabik na sigaw ni Vince habang sinusundan si Rupert palabas.

"Please, mag-ingat kayo." pahabol na sigaw ni Ryza. She has seen how his son getting closer to his Tito Rupert. But all along she couldn't stop thinking about his daughter Aliya. Everytime she and Theodore would try to ask him about his family, he would just say,'They left and I don't wanna talk about it,' na hindi naman nila kinukulit pa kasi mukhang ayaw talaga nitong pag-uusapan.

Kumusta na kaya ang mag-ina? She never got to close with Rosie since Rupert married her, at hindi niya alam kung ano malalim na dahilan. Of course she knew her mula nang nagsimula itong magtrabaho as a recruitment staff sa kanilang kompanya bago pa ito pinakasalan ni Rupert. Isa na rin doon siguro dahil halos hindi ito nagpipirme sa bahay ng sariling asawa, mas pinili nitong magpabalik-balik sa kanilang probinsya at mas mananatili ng matagal doon.

She had sensed Rosie's awkwardness around her before. Could that be because there had been something between her and Rupert?

Might be. Everyone came to know except her two kids how the two friends were trying to pursue her, and she was glad that when she chose Theodore, it didn't ruin their friendship. At least, that's what she assumed.

Dahil pagkatapos ng kanilang kasal, mas lalong naging matatag ang pagkakaibigan ng dalawa hanggang sa nagkasosyo sa isang negosyo na kasalukuyan nilang sabay na pinatakbo ngayon.

***

Rupert drove the blue McLaren 570 GT through the empty roads of Theodore's Hacienda. He first demonstrated the efficiency of his driving to Vince. When learning to drive, it is critical to learn how to develop both skills and attitudes.

Vince on the other hand was impressed. He knew right then that he could learn fast with this man. Habang mimamasdan niyang nagmamaneho si Rupert ay naalaala niya itong tanungin tungkol sa anak na babae nito.

"Tito, I have a question," biglang sabi niya kay Rupert.

"Shoot," maikling sagot ng matanda.

"Where's Aliya? I haven't seen her ever since"

Hindi agad nakapagsalita si Rupert. Tinanaw lang nito ang kaliwa't kanang bahagi ng kalsada bagamat makikita mong nasa malalim itong pag-iisip.

"I guess, malaki na ako para maintindihan ng sapat ang pangyayari," dagdag ni Vince nang napansing walang balak na sagutin nito ang kanyang tanong.

"Iniwan nila ako, buddy," malungkot na tugon ni Rupert sa kanya. "Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Baka hindi ako mahal ng Tita Rosie mo kaya madali niya akong nilayasan."

"Hinanap mo ba sila after they left?" tanong ni Vince. "At least para naman maramdaman nila na they are imprtant to you."

"You won't like my answer, buddy."

"Try me."

"You wouldn't chase a woman who didn't love you in the first place," may diin na sabi ni Rupert na tumatagis ang mga bagang habang binigkas ang mga katagang iyon.

"And why would she marry you if she didn't love you, that's insane," nagsalita muli si Vince.

"I don't know, buddy. I don't know," ani Rupert.

Hindi lubos maisip ni Vince kung bakit sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi siya kumbinsido sa mga sagot ng matanda. Limitado man ang kanyang kaalaman tungkol sa larangan ng pag-ibig, isa lang ang gusto niyang paniniwalaan. Kailanman, ay hindi niya hayaan ang sariling buhay na masira ng dahil sa pagmamahal.

Mas matimbang ang prinsipyo para sa kanya. Sabi nga ng kasabihan, at malimit niyang maririnig, All is fair in love or All is impossible in love. But for him, No. When he wants to be successful in life, he should use his mind, not his heart. Kahit pa lumalaki siya na natatanaw ang wagas na pag-ibig na pinagsaluhan ng kanyang mga magulang, at kahit ilang beses siyang pinagpayuhan ng ama niya na walang ibang mahalaga sa mundo kundi ang pag-ibig, hindi niya masyadong hinigop ang karunungan na iyon. He's different in his own way.

"Oh, sa next round ikaw na dito, are you ready, buddy?" putol ni Rupert sa kanyang pag-iisip.

"Oo ba," masiglang sagot ni Vince na tila nakalimutan ang lahat ng kanilang pinag-usapan.

This will be the best ride in his life!!!!!!